From the beautiful hills and valleys of old Tennessee have gone many a Cumberland Presbyterian. The subject of this memoir is one of them, or rather became one later. After he became settled in life and after his marriage he moved to Texas, and settled at the Mount Pleasant Church, near Alwood, Wise County. While living here he became associated with the good elders and members of this Church, among them H. T. Mogers and John Redman. He soon became a regular attendant at the Sabbath school. Being a man of promise and sound judgment they appointed him teacher of one of the classes. As he studied the beautiful lessons of the Bible from Sabbath to Sabbath he became convicted of sin. The thought occurred to him: "I am trying to teach others the way of salvation and I am a stranger to it myself." His conscience found no rest. Soon after these thoughts were in his mind he submitted himself into the hands of the Good Lord and was gloriously saved. After his being born again that was the thought that he emphasized in his preaching, and he never faltered in his Christian life. Everybody knew he was serving God. In a short time he was impressed to enter the work of the ministry. He was now advanced in years and had a limited education besides having the care of a large family. Like one of old none of these things moved him. They did not keep him from obeying his Master's call. With an iron will and the Spirit of the Lord God upon him, he entered upon his work. In a short time he made himself a scholar of no small degree. He was among the best of our preachers. He was pastor at different times of some of the best of our churches.

The writer was most intimately associated with him while he was pastor at Bowie. He held the position several years and until his ill health caused him to resign. I have seen him enter the pulpit full of the Spirit, full of love, full of his subject and with an earnestness peculiar to him beseech saint and sinner to live better lives. A singular characteristic of the man was that he was spiritual. He was a power when in his spiritual mood. His words were burning coals from off the altar. His success was great in revival meetings. His sermons were pointed and full of reason, yet so simple that a child might understand.

In the doctrines of the Cumberland Church he was sound. When the Siren song of unionism was sung to him it fell on deaf ears. After a faithful and fruitful ministry he was called home on April 8, 1911.

Brother Jones' occupation was that of a farmer and carpenter. His wife, Mrs. Eva Jones, survives him, and now lives in the city of Fort Worth, Tex.

[Source: Our Senior Soldiers: The Biographies and Autobiographies of Eighty Cumberland Presbyterian Preachers. Compiled by The Cumberland Presbyterian Board of Publication. The Assistance of Revs. J. L. Price and W. P. Kloster is Greatfully Acknowledged. Nashville, Tenn.: The Cumberland Presbyterian Board of Publication, 1915, pages 124-126.]

JONES.--Rev. J. W. Jones was born in Wayne County, Kentucky, in the year 1848; and while young moved to Tennessee, where he grew up to manhood; he was married to Miss Eva Harvey (who survives him) in 1875, and in 1884 came to Texas and settled in Wise County, where he remained until his Heavenly Father called him up to his rich reward on April 8, 1911. Brother Jones professed religion under the ministry of Rev. W. J. Gregory at Mount Pleasant Church in 1885, and in 1886 he entered the ministry, although he began late in life to preach. Although having a very limited education, he by hard work and earnest prayer soon went to the front rank as a preacher. He was among the best as a pulpit orator, profound as a thinker, and above all he was a humble as a little child. He filled some of the most important stations in this presbytery, and was loved and esteemed by all because of his humble life and loftiness of his thoughts. He reached those lofty heights all alone at home, with none to help him but his dear Saviour and loving wife, who always was ready to help him. Thank the dear Lord for a true preacher wife like Sister Jones! Thus we are taught again by Brother Jones that a man can begin late in life, and without help or schools, by dint of application and humbleness of heart and faith in God, reach the heights that our Heavenly Father designed that we should. The writer visited him during his last illness. He was patient, though he suffered much; yet he said it was all right; and amid all his suffering he rejoiced continually. On two occasions he asked his family and friends if they could see Christ and the angels. He said: "There they are at the foot of my bed. They are here with me to accompany me to my heavenly home." On April 8 his blood-washed spirit left the mortal clay, and on wings of love bounded away to his celestial home. On the following day, which was the holy Sabbath, the writer preached his funeral to a large, weeping concourse of people. I was assisted by all the pastors of the town of Bridgeport. Truly a prince in Israel has fallen. He was a good husband, a king and affectionate father, a good citizen and neighbor, always ready with his time and money to help in every cause that was good. He was a hero to fight sin and wickedness in all of its forms. He was a good pastor and was loved by all, especially the children. He was a logical preacher, a fine orator, and above all, he was filled with the Holy Ghost. Doubtless hundreds will come up in the last day and call him blessed for having led them to the cross of Christ.
                      J. W. Reid.

[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, December 7, 1911, pages 367-368.]

[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1911, page 203]